Colour Palette Generator

Generators output sets of 3-7 colours that work together visually. Algorithms typically pick a base colour, then apply colour theory rules: complementary (opposite on colour wheel), analogous (adjacent), triadic (evenly spaced 3 colours), tetradic (rectangular 4 colours), monochromatic (variations of one hue). Each rule produces palettes with different feels - complementary is high-contrast and bold; monochromatic is harmonious and subtle.

Modern tools often add: AI-driven palettes from image extraction (upload a photo, get its colour palette), trending palette presets (warm earthy, retro neon, soft pastel), accessibility-first palettes (sufficient contrast for WCAG compliance), brand-style palettes (corporate blue + neutral support colours). Output formats: hex codes (#FF6B6B), RGB (255, 107, 107), CSS variables ready to copy.

Brand identity: 1 primary + 1-2 supporting + 2-3 neutrals. Logo and primary CTA in primary; sub-brand elements in supporting; backgrounds and text in neutrals. Web design: 60-30-10 rule (60% dominant background, 30% secondary, 10% accent for CTAs). Editorial/print: often more colours allowed (4-7) for variety across pages. Photography/illustration: extract palette from a key image to ensure full piece feels cohesive.

Mood targeting: warm reds/oranges = energy, urgency, hunger (food brands). Cool blues = trust, calm, professionalism (tech, banking, healthcare). Greens = growth, nature, wellness. Pinks/purples = creativity, luxury, femininity (cosmetics, fashion). Neutrals (greys, beiges) = sophistication, minimalism. Most successful brand palettes balance dominant emotional colour with strategic accents.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) requires 4.5:1 contrast ratio for normal text, 3:1 for large text. So pure pale yellow (#FFFF00) on white background is illegible (1.07:1 contrast); pure black on white is excellent (21:1). Tools like WebAIM contrast checker verify compliance. Many palette generators flag inaccessible combinations or auto-suggest replacements.

Colour blindness affects ~8% of men, ~0.5% of women. Most common: red-green confusion. Don't rely solely on red/green to indicate state (errors, success) - use icons, text, or position too. Tools simulate colour blindness on your design preview - useful sanity check before launch. Some palette generators have 'colour blind safe' presets that avoid problematic combinations.

Coolors.co: free, fast random palette generation, lock specific colours and regenerate others. Adobe Color: full colour theory tools, save to creative cloud. Paletton: classic colour wheel-based picker. Khroma: AI-generated palettes from your preferences. Image extraction: Adobe Capture, Coolors photo upload, Tailwind color extractor. Most professionals use 2-3 tools combined - generators for inspiration, Photoshop or Figma for application.

Workflow: 1) Pick reference (image, mood board, brand brief). 2) Generate 5-10 candidate palettes. 3) Test in real context (mockup, sample page). 4) Adjust accessibility and contrast. 5) Document final palette with hex codes and use cases. The palette generator is just the start - real selection happens in actual design context. Use the [Hex to RGB](/hex-to-rgb) tool for converting hex outputs to RGB for design tools.